Gemmer steering box

[Dario]

I was under the impression that some of the parts could be sourced from Lada steering boxes, or that the latter could be made to fit. Does anyone else know about this?

[Dinoswede]

The only steering box looking similar to the Gemmer/Dino box seems to be the steering boxes
for FIAT 125/125P/132/Argenta. Also, the 125 box gearing ratio is the same as the Gemmer/Dino
box.
I have overhauled and adopted one of these to fit a Fiat Dino, as a good-to-have spare part, if
the original Gemmer box should stop working.

Fiat 125 box dismantled

The major differences between the 125 and the Gemmer/Dino boxes are 1) the third, front mounting
bolt hole, which has different location compared to the Gemmer/Dino bolt pattern, 2) the in-going
steering shaft and 3) the pitman arm shaft, both having different splines pattern compared to the
Gemmer/Dino box.

To the left, Gemmer/Dino box bolt hole pattern. To the right, 125 box housing.

Fortunately, the 125 pitman arm has the same curved shape as the original Gemmer/Dino arm. It
only needed some "straightning out" work, to fit a Dino. It was done by a professional blacksmith.


125 pitman arm, before straightning-out work

125 pitman arm, after straightning-out work

This project also included welding the cut-off corner back in place, exchanging all bearings, seals
- and a brand new roller shaft! The steering box now works like new, with a very smooth operation.


Measure twice - cut once, to obtain the Gemmer/Dino hole pattern...

A professional airplane repair shop was kind enough welding the parts together.

An internet find, replacing the old roller shaft having a small, but annoying end-play...

The finished,rebuildt and adopted 125/Dino box.

Also, a used, but good 125 steering shaft was obtained, to get an U-joint suitible to the in-going
shaft splines pattern.

Doublegarage and I have measured and compared the actual internal parts for the Gemmer/Dino
and the 125 box - and only the bearings are the same! You cannot use the 125 shafts in a Gemmer/
Dino box. They are similar - but not the same parts!


Dinoswede

[Luis A]

Thanks for the excellent post Dinoswede. Should be a valuable reference for us going forward.

[2dinos]

interesting on those re-man parts. Was a quantity ever discussed to have them made?

Just thinking 10 or 12 (maybe 25+ ??) should get snatched up fairly easily. A couple hundred might sit in somebodies' garage 'til the end of time.

[Tobi]

Would the innards of a working 125 box fit into the existing housing of a Dino box?

[Gaelicguy]

I know this might be a sacrilege, but
Has anyone tried to fit a simple rack and pinion. There are literally hundreds of options from early 60’s and 70’s cars.
And I think there is space across the back of the crossmember to fit something like the MGB unit. Remember, there are no moving parts across the gap where the current steering needs room to move back and forth!
Michael

[Gaelicguy]

I know this might be a sacrilege, but
Has anyone tried to fit a simple rack and pinion. There are literally hundreds of options from early 60’s and 70’s cars.
And I think there is space across the back of the crossmember to fit something like the MGB unit. Remember, there are no moving parts across the gap where the current steering needs room to move back and forth!
Michael